How to take your passion for gaming to the nextLEVEL

IF you live for the joy of a Fortnite Floss, are always hanging out for the next patch or are a button masher from way back, you will want to be at Ipswich Libraries’ nextLEVEL micro-festival of games this February.

Some of Australia’s leading indie games developers, teachers and commentators will converge on Springfield Central Library on 23 and 24 February for the free event tailored to people interested in careers in and around games.

Renowned broadcaster and gamer Stephanie Bendixsen of ABC’s Good Game and Seven’s screenPLAY fame, who goes by the gamertag Hex, will headline the festival.

She will lead a discussion on career opportunities in and around gaming.

There will be demonstrations and workshops on virtual reality gaming and a masterclass where participants will create their own gaming environment.

A knockout tournament of PC games is also planned with a Nintendo Switch up for grabs.

For parents, Dr Joanne Orlando, a leading expert in the field of children and technology, will offer practical tips in an informative session on parenting in the digital age.

Library Services Manager Sylvia Swalling said the micro-festival was a great opportunity for keen gamers to begin learning the basics of game development.

“The gaming industry has really taken off in recent years, particularly with the rise of eSports, and with it the opportunities for people to turn their passion into a career,” she said.

“nextLEVEL is about helping people understand what opportunities are available and the first steps they can take to harness them.”

The nextLEVEL micro-festival has been developed with the support of the Queensland Government through funding by State Library of Queensland.

It is open to people aged 13 and above with intermediate level computer skills and will be held at Springfield Central Library on 23 and 24 February.